Following an exciting week of cup football for many of Kent’s football teams, league play takes centre stage again this weekend.

All four of the county’s National League sides needed a replay to reach the FA Cup first round and the only team to taste defeat was Dover Athletic. They lost 3-0 to Bromley on Tuesday after drawing on Saturday and will hope to return to winning form this weekend when Maidenhead United travel to Crabble. Chris Kinnear’s side know that three points could send them to the top of the table as they sit just one point away from the top spot.

The team to defeat Dover this week, Bromley, come into the weekend just one point inside the play-off places. They welcome Woking to Hayes Lane on Saturday knowing a win could put them as high as fourth.

It took Ebbsfleet United two matches to finally overcome East Thurrock United this week but now Daryl McMahon’s team have a home tie against Doncaster Rovers to look forward to. In the meantime, they need to ensure they are able to keep up with the rest of the league when struggling Barrow are the visitors to Stonebridge Road. Despite lying in 14^th position, the Fleet are only three points away from the play-offs.

Maidstone United are the only Kent side to play away from home in the National League this weekend and they’ll travel to Fylde on Saturday. Maidstone United are in a similar situation to Ebbsfleet United in that one win could propel them up the table and into the play-off places.

On Monday night Dartford arguably got one of the best ties of the FA Cup first round. However, they’ll need to put their excitement about hosting Swindon Town to one side and focus on their league campaign for now. That’ll start on Saturday when they look to regain top spot in the National League South at Chelmsford City.

Also in step two of non-league, Welling United – who are already out of the cup – are just two points behind Dartford. The Wings will look to solidify their play-off place this weekend during their trip west to 15^th placed Gloucester City.

Further down the pyramid and Folkestone Invicta will look to put their cup disappointment behind them when they travel to high flying Leiston. Although they beat Leatherhead in midweek, this Saturday they’ll face a much tougher test with their hosts currently third in the table.

Just outside the play-offs in the same division are Tonbridge Angels and this weekend they welcome Tooting and Mitcham United to Longmead Stadium. The Angels are just six points off the top spot but can only go up by one place with a win on Saturday.

Finally in the Bostik Premier, Margate – who are currently just one place and one point behind Folkestone in the mid-table positions – travel to Harlow Town who have struggled at the start of this season. The Thanet side will be expecting to come back from Essex with all three points.

Finally, we turn our attention to the Bostik South where the stand out fixture this weekend comes from an all Kent match up in the lower half of the table where 21^st placed Faversham Town host VCD Athletic who currently sit in 17^th.

Elsewhere in the division, title chasing Sittingbourne host Chipstead whilst there’s another all Kent fixture at Phoenix Sports where they host Ramsgate.

Rounding off a trio of these local matches, Thamesmead also host Cray on Saturday afternoon.

In the remaining fixtures, Ashford United will look to turn their fortunes around at Carshalton Athletic, Herne Bay travel to Lewes and Hythe Town make the trip to Walton Casuals. All of these are 3pm kick offs on Saturday.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.